Production of arsenical bronze using speiss on the Elephantine Island (Aswan, Egypt) during the Middle Kingdom (Middle Bronze Age) ( <i>c</i> .2000–1650 BCE)

Abstract This paper presents the first direct evidence of the slags produced during the cementation alloying process of Cu with speiss inside ceramic crucibles, thus representing Cu alloying with As in Middle Kingdom Egypt. The settlement deposits from the Middle Bronze Age were excavated on Elephantine Island, within modern Aswan. The intentional production of arsenical bronze at the site is supported by the identification of a speiss fragment from the remains of House 175, dated to advanced Dynasty 12 (19th century BCE). These materials, discussed in detail, were analysed on Elephantine Island and in Cairo using pXRF, optical microscopy and SEM‐EDX.